Friday, January 15, 2016

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Freshman Nick Mayo poured in a career-high 23 points, but the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team fell to the Eastern Illinois Panthers, 97-85, on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.

Mayo finished with 23 points and four rebounds, eclipsing his previous high of 21 notched against Thomas More on November 25. The freshman – who came in sixth in the OVC in field goal percentage (58.2) – shot 75 percent for the game, going 9-of-12.

Sophomore Paul Jackson also posted a career-high in points (14) to go along with seven assists. Junior Jaylen Babb-Harrison came off the bench to score 13 points, all in the second half.

Senior Jarelle Reischel finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists, despite being in foul trouble for most of the game. After picking up his third foul with 4:27 to play in the first half, Reischel got whistled for his fourth less than two minutes into the second half.

EKU shot 55 percent (32-of-58) from the field on the night, its best shooting percentage in a losing effort this season.

Demetrius McReynolds led the way for the Panthers, scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

The Colonels shot a blistering 63 percent (17-of-27) from the field in the first half, but trailed by 11 at halftime, 55-44, due mostly to EIU hitting nine three-pointers.

The Panthers finished with 11 three-pointers on the night.

The Colonels started the second half on a 12-6 run to cut the deficit to five, 61-56, on a Javontae Hawkins dunk, but that was as close as they would get.

The Colonels return to action on Saturday at SIUE. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.